DIY Grid Pencil Case

In case you have seen or are following my Instagram account, you probably know by now that I have this thing for flatlay photos. Which is why I'm always on the lookout for things that are flat, obviously, but are also interesting-looking from the top.

So since it occurred to me just recently that I don't own anything flat + grid-patterned aaand I was again in need of a new pencil case (I just bought a couple of Pentel Fudes), I thought to redecorate a simple metal pencil case from the dollar store.

Materials:

Thin matte black chart tape (I got this one from Amazon but office stores have them too)

Clean the metal pencil case and spray paint it white. I did two coats and allowed it to fully dry between spraying. I opted to paint the insides as well but you can skip that if you want. Optional: spray some sealant to protect the paint.

Starting from the center of the case, stick the chart tape horizontally about half an inch apart. Make sure it's long enough to cover the sides as well.

Trim the excess tape where it meets the opening of the case.

Repeat steps 2-3 for the vertical stripes to create a grid pattern.

If you make a mistake and the tape isn't straight, don't worry because it comes right off and can be applied again correctly. Also, I chose to decorate only the top part of the pencil case but feel free to cover the bottom part of yours if you want.

Maybe one day I'll paint the bottom again but in a contrasting color like blush or grey. But for now, this one will do just fine.

See how it matches other things on my desk.

Just a heads up, you'll be seeing more of this grid pencil case in my Instagram. ;)